Mop frame and a mop

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a mop frame comprising a plate forming the bottom frame part onto which bottom side the mop is located for cleaning, in which mop frame at one end of the plate of the mop frame a top part is pivotably attached by a pivot, to which top part a handle arm is attached. The top part is shorter than the plate, advantageously the length of the top part is 55-75% of the length of the plate. At the other end of the plate a balancing element, preferably a protrusion, is located for balancing the mop frame.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority of EP15187244.7 filed on Sep. 29 2015the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cleaning implements. Especially theinvention relates to a mop frame and to a mop. In particular theinvention relates to a mop frame and a mop according to the appendedclaims herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From prior art various solutions to attach mops to mop frames are known.Of course, the basic intention is that the attachment be relatively firmand quick, and possible to carry out without touching by hand.

A common type of mop frame is such that the mop is attached on thebottom side i.e. in use towards the floor facing side of the planarplate by different types of fixing means such as loops, Velcro fasteningmeans or pockets located at each end of the mop, into which pockets arethen slid each end of the plate. A handle arm is typically fixed at themiddle part of the plate of the mop frame on upper side of the plate.Typically the mop frame is provided with pivoting means in the middle ofthe plate and with means for pressing the longitudinal halves of theplate of the mop frame towards each other in order to remove and/orplace the mop onto the plate. One disadvantage with in these types ofmop frames is that longitudinal distance changes and thus the attachingand removing of the mop without touching with hands is not possible. Theattaching and removing the mop to and from the mop frame is alsocumbersome and time consuming.

A solution known from prior art is type comprising a pocket or a loop atone end of the mop receiving one end of the plate of the mop frame, theplate being pushed into the pocket or through the loop by sliding itfrom the side, whereby the mop can be kept in place, for example, bypushing it against the floor by foot. In the known solutions, the otherend of the mop is held, e.g., by means of a piece of Velcro, a flexibleloop or a tongue provided with a press fastener. The Velcro fasteninghas the disadvantage that its holding power weakens depending on thetimes of use. In repeated use, the abovementioned flexible loop or thetongue provided with a press fastener may be a more durable solution,but their weaknesses: slowness of setting the mop in place to someextent and also the fact that they are difficult to attach and removewithout touching by hand.

Attachment solutions, which are based on a magnetizing force, aredisclosed in publications U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,461 and DE 19940436, forexample. In said US publication, a magnetic rod is provided at the upperpart of the mop frame, cooperating with a metal plate that constitutesthe upper surface of the mop. In the DE publication, in turn, the uppersurface of the mop is provided with a raster that is made of a mixtureof metal powder attached to the surface of the mop by a suitable means,such as gluing or spraying.

In publication WO 2007/085686 is disclosed a mop frame comprising ahandle, a plate connected to the handle and a mop detachably attached tothe plate, at least one pair of holding members, consisting of apermanent magnet and a cooperating counterpart, being arranged forholding the mop onto the plate, whereby the magnet and the counterpartare essentially planar at the surfaces that come towards each other andthey are attached to the plate and to the mop, respectively, so thatthey face each other in the operating position of the mop, in which theessentially flat magnet or counterpart on the mop is attached to the mopunder a fabric that constitutes the upper surface of the mop.

In publication DE 102006027284 is disclosed a mop frame in which anexample is described, which has a plate for attaching a cleaning clothand to which plate a handle arm is attached in the middle part of apivotably to one end of the plate attached top plate. In this examplethe top plate extends over the length of the plate.

One disadvantage of mop frames according to prior art is that theattaching and removing of the mop without touching with hands is notpossible and thus the attaching and removing the mop to and from the mopframe is also cumbersome and time consuming. Another disadvantage of mopframes according to prior art is that when lifted in an open positionthe mop frame is unbalanced thus making handling of the mop framecumbersome and also the attaching and removing the mop to and from themop frame difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to create a mop frame and a mop inwhich the problems and disadvantages of the devices known from the priorart are eliminated or at least minimized.

An object of the present invention is to create a mop frame and a mop,in which the disadvantages of solutions known from prior art relating toattaching and removing the mop to and from the mop frame are solved.

A particular object of the present invention is to create a mop frameand a mop, in which the mop can be attached and removed to and from themop frame without touching by hand.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide a mop framein which the difficulties caused by unbalanced mop frame, especially inthe open position are solved.

In order to achieve the above objects and those which will come apparentlater the mop frame and mop are characterized by the features of theappended claims. Advantageous embodiments and features are disclosed inthe dependent claims.

According to the invention the mop frame comprises a plate forming thebottom frame part onto which bottom side the mop is located forcleaning, in which mop frame at one end of the plate of the mop frame atop part is pivotably attached by a pivot, to which top part a handlearm is attached, and the top part is shorter than the plate,advantageously the length of the top part is 55-75% of the length of theplate, and that at the other end of the plate a balancing element,advantageously a protrusion, is located for balancing the mop frame. Theat the other end of the plate attached balancing element can for examplebe an extra weight element, is located for balancing the mop frame. Thusby the invention a mop frame that is easy and handy in use is achievedand from which mop frame a mop can be removed without touching.

According to an advantageous feature at the bottom side of the top parta magnet is attached and a counterpart of the magnet is attached to thetop side of the plate for closing the mop frame closing the magnet toits counterpart for attaching a mop thereto. This provides for easy andsecure attachment of the mop to the mop frame by easy closing of the toppart to the plate to close the mop frame.

According to an advantageous feature at the vicinity of the pivotbetween the top part and the plate a spring is located for assisting theclosing and opening of the top part thus assisting opening and closingthe mop frame for attaching and removing the mop to the mop frame andfrom the mop frame, by which even easier and handier use of the mop isachieved.

According to an advantageous feature at the open end of the top part apedal is pivotably fastened by hinge for assisting the opening andclosing of the mop frame. By this is achieved that the user needs lessforce for opening closing. According to an advantageous feature the mopframe is opened and closed by pulling and pushing, correspondingly, thetop part of the mop frame by the handle arm, by this more simpleconstruction is achieved.

According to the invention the mop of the mop frame, intended to bedetachably attached, comprises one pocket at one end of the mop on thetop side of the mop, into which pocket is to be placed open end of thecorresponding mop frame. By this easy and handy use of the mop isachieved when attaching to the mop, as well as simple and easy toproduce structure is achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention is described in more detail withreference to the accompanying drawing in which

FIG. 1 discloses schematically as a cross section view one advantageousexample of the mop frame according to the invention,

FIG. 2 discloses schematically the advantageous example of FIG. 1 as athree dimensional view from above and

FIG. 3 discloses schematically an advantageous example of the mopaccording to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description and in the accompanying drawing by samereference signs similar or corresponding parts and part-components aredenoted unless otherwise mentioned.

As shown in the example of FIGS. 1-3 the mop frame 10 comprises a planarplate 11 that extends in longitudinal direction and has a rectangle typeform.

Onto the bottom side of the plate 11 a mop 20 is attached. The mop 30has a pocket 31 at one end and the open end of the plate 11 of the mopframe 10 is slid into the pocket 31. At the opposite end in respect tothe open end the top part 12 is hinged pivotably by pivot 16,advantageously a pivot shaft 16 that provides for the top frame 12 tomove around the pivot shaft 16 upwards and downwards in respect theplate 11. The one open end and the other end to which the top part 12 ispivotably attached are located at the short sides of the rectangle formof the plate 11 of the mop frame 10. Between the top side of the plate10 and the bottom side of the top part 12 at vicinity of the pivot 16 islocated a spring 21 that assist in the closing movement of the top part12. For the spring 21 advantageously a space is made by making recessesat the bottom side of the top part 12 and to the top side of the plate.The handle arm (not shown) will be attached to the arm opening 22 andfastened to the top part by fastener 14. For attaching the mop 30 intoits place the top plate is provided with a magnet 18 and its counterpart19. Advantageously for the magnet 18 a recess is mad to the top part 12.Advantageously at the open end of the top plate 12 a pedal 13 ispivotably fastened by hinge 17. By pressing the pedal 13 by foot theuser can open and close the top part 12 in respect of the plate 11 forremoving and attaching the mop 30 from and to the mop frame 10 withouttouching the mop 30. The opening and closing of the top part 12 can alsobe provided by pulling and pushing the top part 12 by the handle arm.The counterpart 19 of the magnet 18 is attached to the plate by fixingplate 15. At the open end of the plate 10 a balancing element 20, whichin this example is a protrusion 20, is located. The protrusion 20provides for the balance of the mop frame 10 when the top plate is openand thus typically the mop frame 10 lifted from the floor for attachingor removing the mop 30 thus making the use of the mop 30 and the mopframe 10 easy and handy.

The top part 12 is shorter than the plate 11, advantageously the lengthof the top part 12 is 55-75% of the length of the plate 11.

The height of the cross section of the plate 11 at the area of theprotrusion 20 is at least twice the height of the cross section of theplate at the areas where the protrusion 20 does not extend.

The gap between the plate 11 and the top part 12 opens 10-15 degrees.

Thus the mop frame comprises a plate 11 forming the bottom frame partonto which bottom side the mop 30 is located for cleaning and at one endof the plate 11 of the mop frame 10 the top part 12 is pivotablyattached by the pivot 16 to which top part 12 the handle arm isattached, and at the other end of the plate 12 the balancing element 20,for example the protrusion 20 or an extra weight element, is located forbalancing the mop frame 10. Advantageously at the bottom side of the toppart 12 the magnet 18 is attached and the counterpart 19 of the magnet18 is attached to the top side of the plate 10 for closing the mop frame10 closing the magnet 18 to its counterpart 19 for attaching the mop 30thereto. Advantageously at the vicinity of the pivot 16 between the toppart 12 and the plate 11 the spring 21 is located for assisting theclosing and opening of the top part 12 thus assisting opening andclosing the mop frame 10 for attaching and removing the mop 30 to themop frame 10 and from the mop frame 10. Advantageously at the open endof the top part 12 a pedal 13 is pivotably fastened by hinge 17 forassisting the opening and closing of the mop frame 10 or the mop frame10 is opened and closed by pulling and pushing, correspondingly, the toppart 12 of the mop frame by the handle arm. Thus the mop comprises onepocket 31 at one end of the mop 30 on the top side of the mop 30, intowhich pocket 31 is to be placed open end of the corresponding mop frame10.

In this description the terms “bottom”, “top” are used in view of theposition in normal working position of the mop and the mop frame.

The invention has above described referring to one advantageous examplealterations and modifications are possible within the scope defined bythe following claims.

The invention is illustrated with the following non-limiting embodiments

-   -   1. A mop frame comprising a plate (11) forming the bottom frame        part onto which bottom side the mop (30) is located for        cleaning, in which mop frame at one end of the plate (11) of the        mop frame (10) a top part (12) is pivotably attached by a pivot        (16), to which top part (12) a handle arm is attached,        characterized in that the top part (12) is shorter than the        plate (11), advantageously the length of the top part (12) is        55-75% of the length of the plate (11), and that at the other        end of the plate (12) a balancing element (20), advantageously a        protrusion (20), is located for balancing the mop frame (10).    -   2. A mop frame according to the previous embodiment,        characterized in that at the bottom side of the top part (12) a        magnet (18) is attached and a counterpart (19) of the magnet        (18) is attached to the top side of the plate (10) for closing        the mop frame (10) closing the magnet (18) to its counterpart        (19) for attaching a mop (30) thereto.    -   3. A mop frame according to the previous embodiments,        characterized in that at the vicinity of the pivot (16) between        the top part (12) and the plate (11) a spring (21) is located        for assisting the closing and opening of the top part (12) thus        assisting opening and closing the mop frame (10) for attaching        and removing the mop (30) to the mop frame (10) and from the mop        frame (10).    -   4. A mop frame according to the previous embodiments,        characterized in that at the open end of the top part (12) a        pedal (13) is pivotably fastened by hinge (17) for assisting the        opening and closing of the mop frame (10).    -   5. A mop frame according to the previous embodiments,        characterized in that the mop frame (10) is opened and closed by        pulling and pushing, correspondingly, the top part (12) of the        mop frame by the handle arm.    -   6. A mop of a mop frame, intended to be detachably attached to a        mop frame according to any of the previous embodiments,        characterized in that the mop comprises one pocket (31) at one        end of the mop (30) on the top side of the mop (30), into which        pocket (31) is to be placed the open end of the corresponding        mop frame (10).

What is claimed is:
 1. A mop frame comprising: a plate forming a bottomframe part for receiving a mop; and a top part, which is shorter thanthe plate and comprises means for attaching a handle arm; wherein thetop part is attached to one end of the plate through a pivot and toopposite end of the plate a balancing element is located for balancingthe mop frame.
 2. The mop frame according to claim 1, wherein length ofthe top part is 55-75% of the length of the plate.
 3. The mop frameaccording to claim 1, wherein the balancing element is a protrusion. 4.The mop frame according to claim 1, wherein at bottom side of the toppart a magnet is attached and a counterpart of the magnet is attached totop side of the plate for closing the mop frame by attaching the magnetto its counterpart for attaching a mop to the mop frame.
 5. The mopframe according to claim 1, wherein at the vicinity of the pivof betweenthe top part and the plate a spring is located for assisting closing andopening of the top part, thus assisting opening and closing the mopframe for attaching and removing the mop to and from the mop frame. 6.The mop frame according to claim 1, wherein for assisting the openingand closing of the mop frame, a pedal is pivotably fastened by a hingeto an open end of the top part.
 7. The mop frame according to claim 1,wherein the mop frame is opened and closed by pulling and pushing,correspondingly, the top part of the mop frame by a handle arm attachedto the top part.
 8. A mop of a mop frame, to be detachably attached tothe mop frame according of claim 1, wherein the mop has a top side and abottom side, and the top side comprises one pocket at one end of the mopon the top side of the mop, into which pocket an open end of a mop frameis to be placed.